Belt buckle



July 14, 1931. I Q D. M. WIRTH I ,2

BELT BUCKLE Filed Dec. 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Shee't 2 Inventor A llor ncy Patented July 14, 1931 DORSEY M- WIRTH, LE BUCYRUS, HI

BELT BUCKLE Application filed December 30, 1 930. Serial No. 505,644.

This invention is-a continuation in part of application Serial No. 466,245 now in course of prosecution in the Patent Office and relates to expanding belt buckles wherein the *5 expanding member is a spring, incorporated in a new and novel manner whereby a supe-' of belt buckle included in this invention.

Figure 3 is a third form of belt buckle contemplated by this invention viewed from the back of the belt. U Figure 1 is a detailed perspective View of certain parts of the buckle.

' Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional View taken approximately on the line 55 of Figure 1..

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional View taken approximately on the line 66 of Figure 2. l

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional View taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig 7 ure 3.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of one of the parts used in the form of the buckle disclosed in Figure 3. 7

Figure 9 is a detailed enlarged View of another suggested form of the spring expanding member which might be incorporated in any of the forms of buckles alluded to in this application.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the

, numeral 5- d esignates generally the belt which 45 has the end 6 secured to the buckle and the end 7 or the free end of the belt adapted to be inserted in the buckle and to be held by the belt retaining means of the buckle, which engages in the holes 10 of the belt portion 7 Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 it will be observed that an element generally desig nated 11 is common to these forms. This belt connector element 11 is shown in detail in Figure 4, and as illustrated, comprises a closed loop formed by bending a bar or wire into a U, extending the sides 12 of the U laterally away from each other as at 13 and bending them again, and this time inwardly as at 14, from which point they proceed right angularly and directly into end abutting relation meeting at the point 15. A rollerslecve 15 is for convenience and to increase the smoothness of the association of the belt end with the element 11, is placed so that it covers the joint already indicated at 15. Common also to the forms of the buckles disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is a ll-shaped yoke member 17, composed of bar material, and formed right angular for the greater portion of its extent. Figure 1 the ends of the yoke member 17 opposite its bight portion 18 are spread outwardly and then directed upwardly to-meet and to be attached to a generally ovalshaped buckle body 19. In the form of the buckle illustrated in Figure 2 the ends of the sides of the member 17 opposite the bight portion 18 diverge like the end portions of the form of the buckle illustrated in Figure 1 but they merge at their outward extremities with a buckle body 20 which is likewise with the buckle body 19 disposed generally in a plane displaced from, but parallel with the plane of the member 17. The buckle body 20 resembles very much one side of an ordinary belt buckle. In the form of Figure 2 the forward ends of theyoke member 17 are joined by a bar 21 on which is centrally and pivotallymounted a tongue for enteringthebelt holes 10 and cooperating with the buckle body 20 in adj ustably securing the belt end 7 in the buckle. The buckle body 19-of the form illustrated in Figure 1 has a hook 23 illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1 and in full line in Figure 5 which, as shown in Figure 5, is adapted to engage in the belt holes 10.

In the form of buckle shown in Figure 3 v the forward ends of the member 17 are joined in spaced relation with each other by a, heavy In the form of buckle shown in block or bar 24 which has pivots, one on each end as indicated at 25. The pivots 25 are journaled in cars formed on a buckle body generally designated at 27. This form of buckle body is substantially square, and is composed of a substantially flat rectangular body portion 28 which has curved flange on opposite sides brought inwardly as illustrated. The belt end 7, of course, is adapted to be confined by the flanges 29. The ears are disposed on the ends of the flanges 29 and are disposed at right angles to the body portion 28, but spaced therefrom. Common to each form of buckle is the disposition of the legs or sides of the connector 'member 11 so that they slide through holes formed in the bight portions 18 of the yoke member 17. These holes are clearly seen in Fig. 8 at 30. Mounted on each of the members 11 is a coiled spring 31, of the expanding type. The spring is disposed on each leg 12 of the member 11 and continues around the curved portion 12a. The ends of the spring are adapted to abut the inner face of the bight portion 18 of the member 17 7 It. will at once he recognized that with a properly made spring, there will be resilient resistance to drawing the member 11 and the member 17 in opposite directions, and this fact supplies the resilient expanding character of the invention, whereby added comfort and efliciency is brought to belt buckles. Reference to Figure 9 will disclose a modification of the connector member 11 which is designated generally 11a. In this form, a single bar 32 is slidably mounted in a hole in the bight portion 18 of the yoke member 17 and a wide flat loop 33 is formed by bending the bar 32 laterally atright angles, and then bending it so as to form a straight portion directed oppositely. and parallel to the first lateral bend. The second mentioned portion extends as far in the opposite direction, and then is bent again to provide a portion which returns in a manner parallel to said second mentioned portion until it almost abuts the bar 32. v A coiled spring 34 is disposed to have one end abut the bight portion 18, and the other end abuts a disk or washer 35, whereby a resilient spring action similar to that obtained in the forms illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is obtained.

It is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of this invention to the particular modifications set out herein to illustrate the principles thereof, and any change or changes may be made in material and structure and arrangementof parts consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

What isclaimed is r 1. A belt buckle of the type described comprising a belt connector loop, a U-shaped yoke carrying the loop slidably in its bight,

a spring on the loop for resisting longitudi-..

' a coiled spring received on the legs and bight portion of the connector loop for abutting the bight of the yoke, a buckle body attached on the free ends of the yoke,- a belt hole engaging tongue fixedly mounted on the under side of thebuckle body. Y

3. A belt buckle of the type described comprising a closed belt connector loop, a U-shaped'yoke having its bight portion apertured to slidably receive theside members of the loop, a coiled springon the side memis fixedly attached one end of the'belt, a

U-shaped yoke having an apertured bight portion for slidably receiving, in longitudinal relation, the side members ofthe loop, a coiled spring received on the legsand bight portion of the connector loop for abutting the bight of the yoke, a buckle body attached on the free ends of the yoke, a belt hole engaging tongue fixedly mounted on the underside of the buckle body, said yoke having a cross member joining the free ends of its legs, a pivot on each end of the member, said buckle body having apertured ears extended on the underside thereof for journalling said pivots. I, I

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature. DORSEY M. WIRTH. 

